By Leslie Ann Aquino
A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by private think tank Stratbase ADR Institute revealed that the top quality that Filipino voters look for in a senatorial candidate is “not corrupt."
(Juan Carlo de Vela / MANILA BULLETIN)
Based on the said survey, 25 percent of the respondents listed “will not be corrupt” as among the qualities they are looking for in a senatorial candidate.
Candidates who have concern for the poor emerged as the second top quality (22 %) that respondents are looking for senatorial candidates followed by good personal characteristics (21%), and trustworthy (21%)”.
“We deserve leaders who are not corrupt, have good character and trustworthy,” said Dindo Manhit, Lead Convenor of Democracy Watch and president of Stratbase ADR Institute in a statement.
Other qualities cited by respondents are “has concern/helpful to those in need” with 20%; “walks his talk/fulfills promises” with 14 %; “can give solutions to the problems of the country” with 9%; “approachable” with 7%; “has good leadership qualities” with 6%; “knows how to listen and confer with other people” with 5%; “has faith in God” with 5%; “has political will” with 3%; and “educated/intelligent/bright” with 3%.
“Filipinos always call for reducing poverty, create more jobs, and fight graft and corruption in the government. None of these concerns come as a surprise since they affect the daily life of every Filipino,” said Manhit.
“As these concerns have been consistently identified, it is time to ask aspiring candidates what they aim to do to address such national issues,” he said.
“Analyzing a candidate’s credibility, competence and integrity is a responsibility therefore of a voter. These can be measured by looking into their education, experience, records and advocacies/platforms,” Manhit said.
Stratbase ADR Institute through its project Democracy Watch commissioned the survey on the “Qualities that One is Looking for in a Senatorial Candidate of the Philippines”.
The survey was conducted on December 16 to 19, 2018 using face to face interviews of 1,440 adults nationwide, of which 1,363 were registered voters.